Conservatives Quiet on Gun Reform After Shooting
We pray, but no action follows. Prayers didn't prevent the bloodshed in Uvalde.
After the Uvalde-Robles Elementary School shooting in Texas, which left 19 children and two adults dead, conservative politicians have offered no guidance for action. No voice is expected that advocates for gun reform. This is a surprising turn of events, given that gun rights have traditionally been regarded as more important than children's lives.
The tragic event was followed by a barrage of emotion-laden words, such as "evil," "ununderstandable," and "horrifying." Senator Ted Cruz, R-Texas, urges us to "be a country that comes together." I doubt that we have already done so. Some of us have come to believe that there is no greater horror that results from gun violence than from restricting its use.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott, a staunch conservative Republican, spoke before TV cameras on the day of the shooting. "Parents send their children to school expecting they'll be able to pick them up when the school day is over." Abbott was asked how parents could receive such assurances if he claimed to be angry that voters haven't bought enough guns.
In 2015, Abbott tweeted, "It's so embarrassing. Texas is second in the nation in new gun sales, behind California. Let's get Texans up to speed." Abbott helped his state participate in a gun-buying competition with California. Last year, Abbott proudly signed a bill that he called "constitutional carry," which would allow anyone over 21 to carry a gun without a license, a move he hailed in "El Paso Massacre" 2019.
Before Abbott could sign the law, fingerprint clearances, four to six hours of training, a written test, and a shooting test were required. But that's in the past. In Texas, guns rule. Gun laws have been lost, and not just in a game of politics. While Abbott quickly banned books that hurt his political feelings, gun ownership could not be restricted.
President Biden's words after the Uvalde tragedy were angry, although mostly ambitious, as he knew that advocates of gun reform were facing a political reality. Now, he has only words while his opponents have the power of the vote. Last year, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill to expand background checks for gun buyers, but the Senate's approval fell far short of Biden's demands.
"As a nation," Biden said, "we must ask ourselves, when will we turn in God's name to the gun lobby? When will we, knowing we must, do what must be done to prevent such massacres?" Biden pointed out that past bans on assault weapons reduced the number of mass killings, but noted that the number of mass killings ignored when the ban was lifted tripled. He urged public and political opposition to the gun industry, and on his flight home from Asia, he wondered why the United States is the only country with regular mass shootings.
"Mass shootings like this are rare elsewhere," he said. "But they have psychological problems. They've lost people ... Why are we willing to put up with that? Where in God's name is our courage?"
Are there no gun lobbies in other countries?
Supporters of gun rights seem to have a plan, while reformers face powerful manufacturer lobbies, such as the National Rifle Association, and too much regulation.
The Second Amendment does not have to be destroyed to save the nation. The Constitution is a living document. Perhaps over time it will need to adapt to the reality of the modern world, with its computers that communicate with each other and guns that can fire many bullets. Could there not be a law that requires all interactions and the exchange of information between state and federal databases for mental health, criminal records, and gun sales? Are we, as a society, not smart enough to find a way to protect our fundamental rights and those of our children?
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The era of mass shootings that we live in may have begun on August 1, 1966, in Texas, when a man with a high-powered rifle climbed the tower of the University of Texas and began shooting at bystanders on the campus. *Charles Whitman* murdered 16 people on that sunny summer day after killing his wife and mother. The event was the first to be broadcast live, and the city of Austin was plunged into panic. Since then, cities like Sutherland Springs, El Paso, Santa Fe, Midland-Odessa, and Dallas, along with Cafeteria shootings and the Fort Hood massacre, have become infamous. The complete list is much longer.
It's hard to deny that the horror begins here. Let this time and this place create the political will to put an end to it.
Read also:
Conservative politicians after the Uvalde-Robles School shooting do not expect any voice advocating for action. (Many conservative politicians after the Uvalde-Robles School shooting do not expect any voice advocating for action.)
While Abbott quickly banned the publication of books that hurt his political feelings, gun ownership could not be restricted. (While Abbott quickly banned the publication of books that hurt his political feelings, gun ownership could not be restricted.)
The first phrase uses the passive voice, with the agents of action being the "conservative politicians." The second phrase uses the active voice, with the agent of action being "Abbott." Both sentences emphasize the lack of action on gun control despite the shootings.
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The current stance of conservative politicians in the United States towards gun reform, particularly after the Uvalde-Robertson School shooting in Texas, is largely opposed to significant restrictions on gun ownership. Here are some key points:
- National Constitutional Carry Act:
- Rep. Thomas Massie and other House Republicans are pushing for the "National Constitutional Carry Act," which would prohibit states and localities from limiting U.S. citizens from carrying firearms in public if they are eligible under state and federal law[1]. This act aims to uphold the Second Amendment by preventing government infringement on the right to bear arms.
- Gun Control Debate:
- The Second Amendment is a contentious issue, with some arguing it is not an unlimited or individual right to own guns, while others see it as a fundamental right to self-defense[2]. Conservative politicians often argue that any restrictions on gun ownership are unconstitutional and infringe on individual liberties.
- Trump's Stance:
- Former President Donald Trump has vowed to roll back gun control measures imposed by the Biden administration, including those related to background checks, red flag laws, and ghost guns[4]. This stance reflects a broader conservative position that seeks to protect and expand Second Amendment rights.
- Constitutional Carry:
- Constitutional carry laws, which allow individuals to carry loaded, concealed handguns in public without a permit, have gained significant traction among conservatives. This movement has been supported by the National Rifle Association (NRA) and other gun rights advocates, who argue that such laws protect the fundamental right to self-defense as enshrined in the Second Amendment[5].
- Political Support:
- Many conservative politicians have expressed support for constitutional carry and other measures that reduce or eliminate permit requirements for carrying firearms. This support is often framed as a defense of individual liberties and the Second Amendment, rather than a response to specific incidents like the Uvalde-Robertson School shooting[1][5].
The continued lack of significant gun reform measures despite tragic events like the Uvalde-Robertson School shooting can be attributed to several factors:
- Political Polarization: The gun control debate is highly polarized, with conservative politicians often opposing any measures that they perceive as infringing on Second Amendment rights.
- Lobbying Influence: The NRA and other gun rights organizations have significant lobbying power, which can influence legislative decisions.
- Cultural and Ideological Beliefs: Many conservatives believe that gun ownership is essential for self-defense and that restrictions on it are an overreach of government authority.
These factors combined have led to a legislative environment where significant gun reform measures are often met with resistance from conservative politicians.
